A BISCUIT, A CASKET by Liz Mugavero Guest Post, Giveaway and Review

A BISCUIT, A CASKET
by Liz Mugavero

Mugavero does an excellent job of weaving the varied lives of a large cast of small-town characters together to create a coherent and thrilling mystery with a heart.
~Back Porchervations

It’s a fun mystery, perfect for a relaxing day by the pool or snuggling up in front of the fire on a cold winter night.
~fuonlyknew
Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews

A Biscuit, A Casket by Liz Mugavero

Cozy Mystery – 320 Pages

July 7 – July 16, 2014

A Biscuit, a Casket 
Series: A Pawsitively Organic Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington (April 1, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0758284802
ISBN-13: 978-0758284808

Synopsis:

The small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, has wholeheartedly embraced Kristan “Stan” Connor’s new business – preparing quality organic treats for dogs and cats. On a healthy diet, the animals may live longer…but one local farmer won’t be so lucky. As Halloween approaches, Stan is asked to cater a doggie costume party hosted by the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Part of a local co-op, Happy Cow specializes in organic dairy products, and farmers Hal and Emmalee Hoffman have started opening up the farm for parties, offering a “haunted” corn maze as an added attraction. When Hal’s lifeless body is found in the maze, the police at first suspect his wife, but Stan soon learns the dairy farmer had plenty of enemies – from bitter family members to shady business associates. If Stan can’t extract a kernel of truth from the labyrinth of lies, she may be the next one to buy the farm…

About This Author

Liz Mugavero has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera–all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, “So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?” or, “That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?”

She went on to get a master’s in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, and presently, corporate communications. And she’s confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.

Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers’ masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.

Guest Post

10 Things

Meet Kristan “Stan” Connor, the protagonist in my Pawsitively Organic Mysteries. Stan is a corporate PR executive turned gourmet pet food chef, a career she didn’t even know she wanted until a series of unfortunate circumstances landed her out of a job and utterly lost. But destiny is a funny thing. When Stan makes a rash decision to leave her condo, the city and corporate life for good, she ends up in the small town of Frog Ledge, Conn., where cows outnumber people and the neighborhood rooster moonlights as an alarm clock. It’s the best move she ever made. In Frog Ledge, the pets flock to her door for her cooking, the Irish pub owner is a hottie, and on her first day in town she befriends the gourmet cafe owner. Life is looking up - until the first dead body appears in her path.

But that’s a story for another day. Today, I want to tell you 10 things about Stan that you may not know. So here goes.

1.    Stan gave herself her nickname to annoy her mother at age 13, and it stuck.
She loved to use it to her advantage in her corporate life - it threw people off.

2.    Her grandmother taught her how to cook and bake “real food” for pets.
Stan’s grandmother on her dad’s side was her inspiration. She always made food for the neighborhood cats and dogs and Stan would help her serve it out on their farmer’s porch. The neighbors would laugh but her gram didn’t care.

3.    She’s a commitment phobe.
Her long-term relationship has only been long-term because they worked together, are both workaholics and expected very little from each other. Real love scares her to death.

4.    Stan’s mother comes from “old money.”
Patricia Connor’s family was raised in the ritzy and expensive Newport/Jamestown areas of Rhode Island. Her expertise is holding garden parties and mixing drinks - something she does a lot. Stan didn’t fit the socialite mold at all, preferring her father’s side of the family.

5.    As a teenager, she tried the “bad girl” route, also to annoy her mother.
That didn’t work well - especially when she realized the bad boy she was flaunting was really an ex-con who was 10 years older than he claimed to be. She made a beeline back to the right side of the tracks and has accepted her lot in life as a “good girl.”

6.    Despite the high position she held, Stan struggles with self-confidence issues.
She faked it really well and used theme songs she played over and over in her head to get her through the day. Ironically, she’s more comfortable in Frog Ledge.

7.    She is hugely successful at managing her money.
Stan’s got a gift for the stock market, and her financial security helped her make the decision to leave the corporate life behind.

8.    She’s had a huge crush on Jake McGee since she first met him - despite his dog’s bad manners.
But that commitment phoebe thing….

9.    She desperately wants to fit in with the folks in her new town.
She’s afraid she won’t - and it holds her back sometimes.

10.  She realizes she really hated her old life.
Once she has that epiphany, it reinforces her decision to focus on herself and what makes her happy, and make a go of her new business in her new town.

If you’re familiar with the books, I hope you like Stan. If you haven’t met her yet, I hope this helps you get to know her a bit. Thanks for reading!

Author Links

Webpage: www.lizmugavero.com

Blog: www.wickedcozyauthors.com

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475412.Liz_Mugavero

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

Tour Participants

July 7 – Back Porchervations - Review
July 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
July 9 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews – Review
July 10 – deal sharing aunt – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
July 11 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – Review, Interview
July 12 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review, Giveaway
July 13 – Books-n-Kisses – Review, Interview
July 14 – Bea’s Book Nook – Review
July 15 –Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post
July 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

 My Review:
I love that this book took place in Connecticut, which is the state I live in. I loved the New England town and I felt as though the characters could be people that I have met. I have been in corn mazes and I will never think of them the same! The mystery was interesting, and I did could not figure out who the killer was. My favorite part was the dog party sub plot. I had Shih Tzu's growing up, and we dressed them for Halloween! The author did a great job writing about Connecticut in the fall, and I could see the pumpkins, and changing leaves. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

Giveaway 
1 Print copy of the book

a Rafflecopter giveaway